Ridiculous!

A couple of years ago, I worked for a graphics company. When I came in, I replaced a long-term employee who’s like the mother of the rank and file there. There was palpable animosity towards me. I was the villain who took away the position from their beloved finance manager.

They threw almost all kinds of intrigues to me. And the most ridiculous one that they made up was that I ride the taxicab every day going home. Sure, I really did. I didn’t, and still do, not like walking too far to the bus stop or to the MRT. What I find ridiculous in that intrigue was that they didn’t stop and think that I could very well afford the cab ride! I asked for a transportation allowance for that very purpose, why wouldn’t I use it, right?

Eventually, they got tired of throwing intrigues my way and accepted me as the finance manager. They couldn’t do anything about it, I was their boss!

Unique bond

When I was starting out, I worked for a BPO, an Accounting firm to be exact. Since I was only starting out, salary was still low. Back then, I was already sending two siblings to college. Can you imagine how a PhP7,500 per month salary can stretch to accommodate that? Loans left and right, that’s what kept me afloat for a while. Until the monthly amortizations and interests piled up.

One morning, when I couldn’t hold on to my worries anymore, I broke down in the office. It was still too early and there was only one other employee that time, a senior staff. I didn’t know that he could see me talking to my friend on the phone. I was crying my heart out, telling my friend about the worries, the loans piling up and the tuition fees I still needed to produce. After that talk, I felt slightly less burdened. And closer to the senior staff. He talked to me and I saw the genuine concern in his face. I knew then that he’s someone I could trust in the office. I was right!

I never encountered another male co-worker like him again. There’s another one but we didn’t bond like that. I guess, seeing you cry at six in the morning can really bond two persons like none other.

New home, welcome!

I have always planned for my Monetize Your Blog (sasha.akoni.info) to be transferred to this blog. Unfortunately, I am enrolled in several programs that make it impossible for me to just do a transfer without seeking their approval first. I can just do the transfer because it is my blog, anyway. But I have to suffer the consequences which will be loss income.

Now, though, after having issues with the akoni blogs, I figured I might as well transfer now, with or without the approval of the program instead of losing all the posts I’ve worked hard writing down.

So, welcome to the new home of Sasha.Akoni.info!

Girls Night Out

I worked for a business process outsourcing (BPO) in Makati City. It was grueling, to say the least. There were days when sleep was only for an hour or two. And then it’s off to work once more. I would have stayed behind and not go home if the office didn’t kick me out. It was that tough.

What I treasure the most during those days were the after-office drinks with friends. I remember that on Thursdays, I made it a point to be out of the office by seven-ish to meet up with a college buddy and her two co-workers. We would then walk a few blocks to the Cable Car. On Thursdays, back in 2000 when Cable Car was still open, it was Girls Night Out. Drinks ordered by ladies were buy-1 take-1. I forgot the name of the drink my friend and I always ordered but it was a bit strong. I always went home tipsy from those drink. And those Thursday nights are forever etched on my mind.

It was a lot of fun!

And I am hoping I will be able to do it once more when I go back to the corporate world.

Tags: BPO, Cable Car Makati, Girls Night Out, Ladies Drinks

Early morning chats

I love chatting in the early morning, 1am onwards. There’s just something more intimate in that setting. It’s like in those hours, you are prone to divulging your innermost thoughts. And expressing your emotions…

I remember hanging out at Eastwood City after midnight just to take a break from figuring out where the darn millions of dollars of assets were recorded. I would ask one of the staff to come join me and we would stay out and chat for at least an hour before going back to balancing the books. I did it for a year: the first few months balancing the books, the rest of my stay in the company I stayed overnight doing the financial statements. It was one of the memorable parts of staying in that company for me. Chatting, hanging out, people watching in the early morning, discussing moral values of kids these days…

I am hoping the new company I will be joining will give me more than that.